A dominant Australia looked firmly on course for a 5-0 Ashes series sweep when they reached 140 for four, a lead of 311, at close of play after skittling England for 155 on the second day of the fifth test on Saturday.

Chris Rogers, who had made 73 not out, and George Bailey, unbeaten on 20, will resume on day three looking to further inflate the lead before Australia unleash their pace attack on the hapless tourists.

England's bowlers made inroads into the Australian batting order in the final session to contribute to the 13 wickets to fall at the Sydney Cricket Ground but the day was defined by a first hour that left the tourists reeling at 23-5.

While a dispirited England had once again contributed to their own batting downfall, Mitchell Johnson (3-33), Ryan Harris (3-36) and Peter Siddle (3-23) played decisive roles with another display of top quality pace bowling.

Australia had made 326 in their first innings before reducing England to 8-1 overnight and drove home their advantage by ripping through England's top order in the early blitz.

It was Harris who started the carnage with the second ball of the day when England captain Alastair Cook inexplicably padded up to an inswinger and was trapped leg before for seven.

Harris could have had a second wicket with his next delivery when Ian Bell edged the ball behind only for Shane Watson to fluff a reasonably easy catch in the slips.

Nightwatchman James Anderson braved a couple of overs of short bowling before departing, also for seven, after finding the edge with a stab at a fuller length Johnson delivery, which Michael Clarke leapt to claim in the cordon.

Kevin Pietersen lasted just nine balls and 12 minutes before being dismissed for three courtesy of another edge to the slips from a Harris delivery, which Watson took this time after a juggle.

FOLLOW-ON SAVED

With England now 17-4 after just 32 minutes of play, Bell did his best to dig in.

He took 42 minutes to get off the mark but had just two runs on the board 14 minutes later when a superb delivery from Siddle had him caught behind by Brad Haddin.

Debutant Gary Ballance (18) went just after lunch before Jonny Bairstow (18) and Ben Stokes (47) offered some resistance in a partnership of 49 for the seventh wicket.

When they were dismissed in one Siddle over, though, England's hopes of any kind of respectable score